Two changes to Irish Women for Grand Slam match against Italy

Ireland women’s coach Philip Doyle has made two changes to the starting line-up for the match aginst Italy with Niamh Kavanagh and Grace Davitt returning to the starting XV.

Davitt has been named in the centre, replacing Jenny Murphy who picked up a hamstring injury in the game against France. Kavanagh comes in on the wing in place of Ashleigh Baxter.

Heather O’Brien and Shannon Houston have also been included in the replacements.

The Irish side face into this fixture on the back of four wins from four in the tournament so far and have already secured the 2013 championship, but are now eyeing a first Grand Slam.

Doyle said: “It’s a testament to Ross Callaghan’s strength and conditioning of the squad that we have got this far without injury.

"Unfortunately Jenny Murphy picked up a knock in the last game and she is missing this weekend but it’s great that we have the dept in the squad that we can call on Grace Davitt to easily slip into the starting line-up.

“We know it’s a huge task ahead of us this weekend an there is a lot of expectation on our shoulders but at the end of the day it’s a game of rugby that we have to go out to win and it will be treated as another international match that the team are well up for.

“Italy has shown in their past matches that they are very resilient and without doubt will be a huge task for our girls to break them down.”